LABUAN: Attending the Remembrance Day ceremony for the first time at the Labuan War Memorial was a touching moment for the late Kalingoh Gombiau’s family.
Lucia Peter Walad, 44, an English teacher at SMK Tambunan, said her late grandfather, Kalingoh, who was a policeman during World War II, was killed during their resistance against the Japanese invading army in 1945.
“This is my first time attending the Remembrance Day ceremony and I did not expect that those killed fighting against the Japanese Imperial Army would be honoured this way, and it is a very touching moment for me,” she said.
Lucia said two months ago, she and her teacher friend, Christina Clement, came to visit the island and her friend later showed her a brochure of Remembrance Day in a hotel where they were staying.
She said when she saw the photos in the brochure, the memory of her late grandfather immediately came to her mind and she then told her friend about him.
“Christina later suggested that we come to the ceremony, and since that day I could not wait to attend the event.
“So today, I want to see how the ceremony is going on and I want to pray for the soul of my late grandfather alongside family members of those killed in the war,” she said on Sunday.
According to Lucia, her father, the only child of her late grandfather, was just about three years old when Kalingoh was killed.
“From the story I heard from my parents, there were also other policemen from Tambunan killed, and I found their names written on the plaque in this memorial,” she said.
Meanwhile, Lucia’s grandmother, Andisam Pidon, the wife of her late grandfather, is still alive and now in her early 80s, and staying in Lahad Datu with her family.
Lucia plans to bring her grandmother to Remembrance Day next year to witness how her husband and the other fighters who died were being honoured.
“I want to bring her next year to watch this ceremony so that she would know that her husband’s services was not in vain.
“I also plan to bring some more of my family members, especially those in Tambunan, to attend this ceremony as they have no idea how big their grandfather or great grandfather’s contribution was for this country’s peace,” she said.
For Rina Joyce Dilliam, 20, she said she felt excited to come to the ceremony as it was also her first time watching it.
Rina’s mother is a cousin of Lucia and she was first told by her uncle that their forefather’s name (Kalingoh) was written on the plaque at Labuan War Memorial.
“After being informed by my uncle, I was curious to find out whether it was true or not. Then, in July this year I came here to ascertain his name and indeed it was true.
“Then my aunt Lucia asked us to join her to attend the Remembrance Day event,” she said.